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interest group, also called special interest group, advocacy group, or pressure group, any association of individuals or organizations, usually formally organized, that, on the basis of one or more shared concerns, attempts to influence public policy in its favour. All interest groups share a desire to affect government policy to benefit themselves or their causes. Their goal could be a policy that exclusively benefits group members or one segment of society (e.g., government subsidies for farmers) or a policy that advances a broader public purpose (e.g., improving air quality). They attempt to achieve their goals by lobbying—that is, by attempting to bring pressure to bear on policy makers to gain policy outcomes in their favour. Interest groups are a natural outgrowth of the communities of interest that exist in all societies, from narrow groups such as the Japan Eraser Manufacturers Association to broad groups such as the American Federation of Labor–Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO) and to even broader organizations such as the military. Politics and interests are inseparable. Interests are a prevalent, permanent, and essential aspect of all political systems—democratic, authoritarian, and totalitarian regimes alike. Furthermore, interest groups exist at all levels of government—national, state, provincial, and local—and increasingly they have occupied an important role in international affairs. The common goals and sources of interest groups obscure, however, the fact that they vary widely in their form and lobbying strategies both within and across political systems. This article provides a broad overview that explains these differences and the role that interest groups play in society. As defined above, an interest group is usually a formally organized association that seeks to influence public policy. This broad definition, increasingly used by scholars, contrasts with older, narrower ones that include only private associations that have a distinct, formal organization, such as Italy’s Confindustria (General Confederation of Industry), the United States’s National Education Association, and Guatemala’s Mutual Support Group (human rights organization). One problem with such a narrow definition is that many formally organized entities are not private. The most important lobbying forces in any society are the various entities of government: national, regional, and local government agencies and institutions such as the military. Another reason to opt for a broad definition is that in all societies there are many informal groups that are, in effect, interest groups but would not be covered by the narrower definition. For example, in all political systems there are influential groups of political and professional elites that may not be recognized as formal groups but are nonetheless crucial in informally influencing public policy. Some interest groups consist of individuals such as ranchers or fruit growers who may form farm commodity organizations. In other instances, an interest group consists not of individuals but of organizations or businesses, such as the Histadrut (General Federation of Labour) in Israel and Amazon Watch, which includes environmental and indigenous organizations in several South American countries. These types of organizations are called peak associations, as they are, in effect, the major groups in their area of interest in a country. The term interest rather than interest group is often used to denote broad or less-formalized political constituencies, such as the agricultural interest and the environmental interest—segments of society that may include many formal interest groups. Similarly, interest is often used when considering government entities working to influence other governments (e.g., a local government seeking to secure funding from the national government). In authoritarian and developing societies, where formal interest groups are restricted or not as well developed, interest is often used to designate broader groupings such as government elites and tribal leaders. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now
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Political parties and interest groups are entities that act as intermediaries between the population and the political sphere. Groups and parties bring together people with similar ideas and visions on specific or broader issues, including economics, migration, taxes, welfare, healthcare, and so on. Although political parties and interest groups are quite different, they are both means through which citizens can deepen their knowledge on political and social issues and can become informed voters. In general terms, political parties aim at winning elections and focus on various issues; conversely, interest groups do not participate in the electoral process but are deeply involved in lobbying and are generally focused on one or two specific issues. What are Political Parties?A political party exists to gain power through elections by supporting one or more candidates. For instance, in the United States, Republicans and Democrats are the two main political parties and, every four years, new (or old) candidates are put forward by the two parties to run for elections. Political parties focus on a variety of issues, including:
A political party can include all citizens that identify with the party itself – even if they are not officially registered. Political parties aim at gaining power by supporting their candidates, they can be flexible about different issues and they are often criticized for prioritizing the interests of politicians rather than the needs of the population. What are Interest Groups?Interest groups are groups of people that share similar ideas on specific issues and that come together to influence public opinion. Yet, interest groups do not run for elections and do not necessarily support individual candidates but they do seek the abolition or the approval of specific laws by lobbying and campaigning. Interest groups can include:
Interest groups focus on specific issues, like gun control, environmental laws or minimum wages. They are usually not flexible and their strength largely depends on their size and on their influence on the broader population as well as on their ability to lobby politicians or influential individuals. Similarities between Political Parties and Interest GroupsAlthough they are different in substance, political parties and interest groups share some common features:
Difference between Political Parties and Interest GroupsPolitical parties and interest groups differ on various levels: they can have different sizes, they can be focused on different issues and they can have different goals. The main difference between the two concerns their primary purpose: political parties aim at achieving power over governmental policy by supporting a candidate and winning elections; conversely, interest groups are created to promote a position or a view on specific issues but do not have members running for office. As such, interest groups often vote for candidates – who are put forward by political parties – who share their point of view. Other differences between the two include:
Political Parties vs Interest Groups : Comparison TableBuilding on the differences highlighted in the previous section, we can identify few other aspects that can differentiate political parties from interest groups:
Summary points on difference between Political Parties and Interest GroupsPolitical parties and interest groups are groups of people that share similar views and ideas. Political parties focus on a larger variety of issues and aim at achieving power by winning the electoral process; conversely, interest groups have a narrower focus and do not participate in elections. Not all members of a political party have the same ideas, but all members of an interest group are deeply committed to the ideal and the view of the group and engage in fundraising and lobbying activities to promote their point of view.
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